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CPT code 78201: Liver imaging, static images only2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports radionuclide imaging focused on static liver images when the examination does not include vascular-flow imaging or spleen imaging.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality934 Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $200.33 for 78201 in the office.

$200.33Office (non-facility)
Not available in this settingHospital or facility
+16.7%vs the national office rate ($171.68)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 78201 nationwide

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

We’ll open 78201 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 78201 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 78201 covers

78201 represents a radionuclide study that produces static images focused on the liver, without vascular-flow imaging. Nuclear medicine staff acquire the images, and a nuclear medicine physician interprets findings such as hepatic distribution, contour, or focal abnormalities. The study may be performed in a hospital imaging department or outpatient nuclear medicine facility when the clinical question calls for static liver scintigraphy rather than evaluation of biliary transit.

Select the code from the documented protocol and images: report 78201 for static liver imaging alone, 78202 when vascular-flow imaging is included, and 78215 or 78216 when the study also images the spleen. The order, imaging record, and interpretation should support the liver-only static examination. CMS recognizes separately priced professional and technical components: use modifier 26 for the interpretation and modifier TC for the equipment and staff; billing without either modifier represents the global service.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

How Washington, DC area compares for 78201

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 78201 runs from $148.81 in Arkansas to $240.98 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $200.33. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

78201 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$200.33
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$200.02−$0.31
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$181.11−$19.22
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$175.15−$25.18
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$198.94−$1.39
  6. Alaska · Alaska$188.06−$12.27
  7. Alabama · Alabama$151.40−$48.93

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

78201 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$148.81—
ArizonaArizona$166.58—
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$186.08—
Chico, CACalifornia$185.91—
El Centro, CACalifornia$185.92—
Fresno, CACalifornia$185.91—
Hanford, CACalifornia$185.91—
Madera, CACalifornia$185.91—

78201 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$148.81

$213.45

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
78201 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$188.061
AL$151.401
AR$148.811
AZ$166.581
CA$185.91–$240.9829
CO$181.351
CT$184.351
DC$200.331
DE$169.691
FL$165.85–$181.113
GA$155.29–$174.612
GU$192.111
HI$192.111
IA$157.271
ID$158.201
IL$159.30–$177.524
IN$159.311
KS$155.781
KY$154.271
LA$153.74–$162.792
MA$179.74–$202.182
MD$173.52–$200.333
ME$158.50–$169.542
MI$158.43–$167.622
MN$174.771
MO$150.20–$164.233
MS$149.571
MT$171.681
NC$160.551
ND$170.491
NE$158.471
NH$177.801
NJ$186.74–$197.572
NM$159.191
NV$171.501
NY$163.32–$203.675
OH$158.181
OK$154.621
OR$170.46–$188.642
PA$158.83–$178.692
PR$173.361
RI$176.861
SC$159.581
SD$170.351
TN$156.621
TX$157.56–$180.498
UT$162.161
VA$168.45–$200.332
VI$173.361
VT$169.141
WA$179.62–$207.292
WI$163.771
WV$152.201
WY$171.161

See 78201 in every payment locality

How the 78201 rate is calculated

Each of 78201’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

How the rate is built · 78201

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.43

0.43 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense4.65

4.65 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.06

0.06 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

5.1400

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$171.68

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

9,257

Code
78201
Physician work
0.43
Practice expense
4.65
Malpractice
0.06

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 78201 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.43× 1.0540.4532
Practice expense4.65× 1.1785.4777
Malpractice0.06× 1.1130.0668
Total RVUs5.9977
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$200.33

Office: (0.43 × 1.054 + 4.65 × 1.178 + 0.06 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $200.33

Open 78201 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 78201

The CMS indicators that decide how 78201 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 78201

Liver imaging, static images only

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical1Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 26 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

78201 without 26 · national office

$171.68

Liver imaging, static images only

78201-26 · Professional component

$19.71

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

Codes related to 78201

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 78201
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
78202Liver imaging, with vascular-flow phaseLiver imaging that includes vascular-flow imaging.$224.02
78215Liver-spleen scan, static images onlyStatic imaging of both the liver and spleen.$207.97
78216Liver-spleen scan, with vascular flowLiver and spleen imaging that includes vascular-flow imaging.$152.95

How 78201 has changed in Washington, DC area

78201 · Office / nonfacility

$200.33

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $0.13 lower than on 2025-10-01, moving from $200.46 to $200.33 (0.1%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $200.46changed to$200.33

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.44 changed to 0.43
    • Practice expense RVU 4.75 changed to 4.65
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $208.27changed to$200.46

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 4.80 changed to 4.75

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $204.87changed to$208.27

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $218.18changed to$204.87

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 4.86 changed to 4.80
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $228.75changed to$218.18

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 4.91 changed to 4.86
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $239.27changed to$228.75

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 5.11 changed to 4.91

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $238.01changed to$239.27

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 4.95 changed to 5.11
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.06
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $235.98changed to$238.01

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 5.00 changed to 4.95
    • Malpractice RVU 0.05 changed to 0.07
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $238.32changed to$235.98

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 5.06 changed to 5.00

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $236.36changed to$238.32

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 5.03 changed to 5.06
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $233.71changed to$236.36

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 4.98 changed to 5.03
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $234.14changed to$233.71

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 4.96 changed to 4.98
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.05

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $232.98changed to$234.14

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $227.12changed to$232.98

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 4.82 changed to 4.96
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.06
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $227.49changed to$227.12

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 5.13 changed to 4.82
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $227.49

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$200.33Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$200.33Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$200.33Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$200.33Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$200.46Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$200.46Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$200.46Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$200.46Not available in this settingRVU25A
2024-10-01$208.27Not available in this settingRVU24D
2024-07-01$208.27Not available in this settingRVU24C
2024-04-01$208.27Not available in this settingRVU24B
2024-03-09$208.27Not available in this settingRVU24AR
2024-01-01$204.87Not available in this settingRVU24A
2023-10-01$218.18Not available in this settingRVU23D
2023-07-01$218.18Not available in this settingRVU23C
2023-04-01$218.18Not available in this settingRVU23B
2023-01-01$218.18Not available in this settingRVU23A
2022-10-01$228.75Not available in this settingRVU22D
2022-07-01$228.75Not available in this settingRVU22C
2022-04-01$228.75Not available in this settingRVU22B
2022-01-01$228.75Not available in this settingRVU22A
2021-10-01$239.27Not available in this settingRVU21D
2021-07-01$239.27Not available in this settingRVU21C
2021-04-01$239.27Not available in this settingRVU21B
2021-01-01$239.27Not available in this settingRVU21A
2020-10-01$238.01Not available in this settingRVU20D
2020-07-01$238.01Not available in this settingRVU20C
2020-04-01$238.01Not available in this settingRVU20B
2020-01-01$238.01Not available in this settingRVU20A
2019-10-01$235.98Not available in this settingRVU19D
2019-07-01$235.98Not available in this settingRVU19C
2019-04-01$235.98Not available in this settingRVU19B
2019-01-01$235.98Not available in this settingRVU19A
2018-10-01$238.32Not available in this settingRVU18D
2018-07-01$238.32Not available in this settingRVU18C
2018-04-01$238.32Not available in this settingRVU18B
2018-01-01$238.32Not available in this settingRVU18AR1
2017-10-01$236.36Not available in this settingRVU17D
2017-07-01$236.36Not available in this settingRVU17C
2017-04-01$236.36Not available in this settingRVU17B
2017-01-01$236.36Not available in this settingRVU17A
2016-10-01$233.71Not available in this settingRVU16D
2016-07-01$233.71Not available in this settingRVU16C
2016-04-01$233.71Not available in this settingRVU16B
2016-01-01$233.71Not available in this settingRVU16A
2015-10-01$234.14Not available in this settingRVU15D
2015-07-01$234.14Not available in this settingRVU15C
2015-04-01$232.98Not available in this settingRVU15B
2015-01-01$232.98Not available in this settingRVU15A
2014-10-01$227.12Not available in this settingRVU14D
2014-07-01$227.12Not available in this settingRVU14C
2014-04-01$227.12Not available in this settingRVU14B
2014-01-01$227.12Not available in this settingRVU14A
2013-10-01$227.49Not available in this settingRVU13D
2013-07-01$227.49Not available in this settingRVU13C
2013-04-01$227.49Not available in this settingRVU13B
2013-01-01$227.49Not available in this settingRVU13AR

Price 78201 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

78201 billing questions

How does 78201 differ from 78202?

78201 identifies static liver imaging alone. Use 78202 when the examination includes vascular-flow imaging.

When is 78215 a better fit?

Use 78215 for static imaging of both the liver and spleen. Code 78201 is focused on the liver alone.

Can the professional and technical services be billed separately?

Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service, including equipment and staff. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.

What documentation supports reporting 78201?

The order, imaging record, and interpretation should establish that the service was static imaging of the liver alone, without vascular-flow imaging or spleen imaging.

Is 78201 the code for a hepatobiliary study?

No. 78201 describes static liver imaging; 78226 is used for imaging of the hepatobiliary system.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 78201PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 9,257 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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